Originally posted 5/6/25
We read about the two sisters, Mary and Martha together. We will look at them separately in order to focus closely on each one.
Martha is a woman after my own heart. She is busy preparing for company and works hard to make her home a welcoming place for Jesus and other guests.
We see Martha first in Luke 10:38-41, “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,”
One year my son asked to bring some friends home who didn’t have a place to go for Thanksgiving. He brought six wonderful young people with him. The preparations were a little more stressful than usual. I wanted everything to be perfect. There were a few things I wasn’t accustomed to with this dinner. The people coming engaged in a group chat about this dinner. There was a Google document where you signed up for what to bring. Was our little family going to disappoint this group of young adults? It was such a precious time. Once everyone arrived, I was able to relax and join in the fun. We didn’t know each other, but we all gathered around our love of Christ. As a side note, my son’s wife came from that group of young people. It was a wonderful experience for us all.
Any time we have guests into our home there are a a plethora of things to complete. I have to first make lists of things that must be done. Things have to be purchased; things have to be cleaned; and things need to be set up. You have to cook food. You have to set up extra tables. Are there enough chairs? Are people bringing things to help? What type of utensils will be used? The house has to be cleaned. When was the bathroom last cleaned?
As we look at this passage, we see several things that are worth mentioning. Martha welcomed Jesus into her house. Scripture is not clear about her status, but we can make the assumption that the house belonged to her. She carried the responsibility of the home. She was responsible for hosting people. Imagine hosting Jesus in your home.
Martha became distracted by her service. Martha took seriously her responsibilities as hostess. However, she was upset with her sister who continued to sit at Jesus’ feet and was not helping her. She asked Jesus to intervene. He loving rebukes her and tells her that she is allowing things to distract her. Anyone who is detail oriented can identify with Martha. There is nothing wrong with using the gifts that the Lord has given us. God has given us many gifts that he expects us to your use for his glory. There is a danger to become so busy doing good, that we do not spend any time with the Lord. I can become so busy preparing to teach God’s word, that I fail to spend time savoring God’s word for my own heart. Jesus wanted her to remember that.
We later see this family again when her brother becomes sick. They sent for Jesus to come but he delayed. John 11:1-6 sets the story, “Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.”
Obviously, Jesus knew what he was doing by delaying his arrival. Jesus knew that God would receive more glory if he delayed, but Martha didn’t understand.
We pick up the story in verse 20. John 11:20-29 states, “So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” 28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him.”
Martha went to Jesus and was upset that he let her brother die. She knew that Jesus had the ability to heal the sick. Perhaps she didn’t really understand the extent of Jesus divine power. Jesus shares a precious truth with her. She tells him that she believes he is the Son of God. We see later in the story that Jesus does in fact call Lazarus from the grave.
What lessons can we learn from Martha? We need to remember that while serving our Lord is important, sitting at his feet is more important. We can get so caught up in serving the Lord that we forget to sit with him. Don’t let service distract you from spending time in prayer and reading the Word. We also need to remember to give our best to the Lord. When we are serving, give your best. Finally, we need to remember that we can cast all of our worries and anxiety upon the Lord. We need to trust him to weave our fears, worries, and troubles into a beautiful tapestry that only God can weave.
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